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Out With The Old

I feel a certain sad symmetry this morning as I wait for our health department inspection to be conducted in a few hours – the final requirement we must fulfill before we open Bread Furst.

Dahmane Benarbane, the owner of Baguette Republic, a wholesale bakery in Chantilly, called me yesterday to tell me that the last Marvelous Market store will close today. So as Bread Furst, a new neighborhood bakery prepares to open next week, my first neighborhood bakery that opened 24 years ago, finally dies.

Marvelous Market was a name well known in Washington and it could have lived on and prospered. Its decline was the result of very bad decisions made by very few people.

Even as we prepare to open Bread Furst, this beautiful space that will be the workplace of talented people, even though I think we are creating something that will be valued by the neighborhood, even by the city, it’s awful for me to see Marvelous Market disappear.

Mark Furstenberg posted: “I feel a certain sad symmetry this morning as I wait for our health department inspection to be conducted in a few hours – the final requirement we must fulfill before we open Bread Furst. Dahmane Benarbane, the owner of Baguette Republic, a wholesale “

Sad news – I’ve been a MM customer for many, many years. I remember how dismal the bread situation was around here when I moved back from France in 1978; MM and Uptown Bakery changed that. What happened?

True about Uptown. Living in Woodley Park, that wasn’t so much of a problem for me but I could see how it could have been for others. Speaking of that sort of thing, won’t parking be difficult near the new store?

My husband and I moved to Forest Hills in 89 from Dupont Circle, I realized that our neighborhood lacked a place to buy good bread. Soon thereafter Marvelous Market opened and I was in seventh heaven. Nothing could beat the multigrain and chocolate cherry bread, and in fact there is nothing around that beats those breads today. So sorry to hear about the last store closing. But where a door closes, another opens and so apt in your opening Bread Furst. May its life in our neighborhood be long and prosperous. L’chaim

Yes, this is too bad about Marvelous Market; I was sad to see the one in Chevy Chase close. But I am really excited about Bread Furst. The space looks fantastic, and the bread that started appearing in the windows looks so enticing.

I can understand your sadness of course — but you have so much to be proud of in bringing not only good bread (and many good things to accompany it) to DC but in helping spur a community of people who care about food as part of quality city life. I have missed seeing your presence and professionalism at work (last time as the guiding light of Breadline) and feel your approach in guiding this next generation at BreadFurst is fantastic; and I might add an inspiration! I am so glad my AM power walk can end at your new place. With many best wishes.